The state Department of Transportation will begin managing operations of Southeast Area Transit District, New London County’s public bus company, starting today.

The move comes following adoption of resolutions by the nine towns that comprise the SEAT district and by SEAT’s Board of Directors asking DOT to assume control of operations, the department said in a Tuesday press release.

The current SEAT board will remain in place and advise the DOT, the release said. The department also intends to engage staff and municipal leaders from member towns, which include Griswold, Ledyard, Montville and Norwich, and the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments to work on service planning issues.

Day-to-day operations and management will be overseen by DOT through a continuation of the management contract that is in place between SEAT and First Transit, the private company hired to manage operations, the DOT said.

“We expect this transition to be seemless for SEAT riders and look forward to working with the towns on enhancing the customer experience,” state Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said in the release.

SEAT, which has its headquarters in Preston, provided more than 1 million passenger trips last year.